Sports Picks & Predictions

7* NBA Non-Conference Game of the Month on Chicago Bulls -3.5

The Key: Both the Bulls and Mavericks are 7-3 this season and that's why this line is only -3.5 in favor of the Bulls due to home-court advantage.  But it should be higher when you consider the Bulls are outscoring teams by 7.0 PPG, while the Mavericks are getting outscored by 2.3 PPG this year.  Take Chicago.

6* Wednesday NCAAB *CA$H COW* on UCF -15.5

The Key: UCF returns all 5 starters this year and is a sleeper in the American Athletic Conference.  Robert Morris went 4-15 last year and returns just 2 starters and one reserve.  They don't return anyone that scored in double figures last year. The Knights should make easy work of the Colonials, who lost 12 of their final 13 games last year.  The Knights are 41-20-1 ATS in their last 62 games as home favorites.  Take UCF.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Utah Jazz -8

The Key: The situation favors the Utah Jazz over the Atlanta Hawks tonight.  The Jazz come back home hungry for a win after losing the final 2 games of 6 road games in their last 7.  Now they get to face the tired Atlanta Hawks who will be playing for a 2nd consecutive day and their 5th game in 7 days.  The Hawks have lost 6 of their last 7 after falling by 14 to the Warriors last night and their fatigue is starting to show.  They have also failed to cover 7 of their last 8.  Take Utah.

6* Tuesday NCAAB *BLOWOUT* on Nebraska -16.5

The Key: Fred Hoiberg is in Year 3 at Nebraska and just brought in the best recruiting class in program history.  It's finally going to pay off this year for him.  The Huskers should make easy work of a Western Illinois team that went 7-15 last year and won't be very good this year, either.  Take Nebraska.

6* Tuesday NCAAB *CA$H COW* on Iowa State -15

The Key: Iowa State welcomes its former assistant in T.J. Otzelberger to the helm and it can only get better.  He went to UNLV but returned home and brought Caleb Grill with him from UNLV.  He also brought in some great transfers in Penn State's Izaiah Brockington, Mississippi State's Blake Hinson and Minnesota's Gabe Kalscheur.  The Cyclones are lacking the respect they deserve in the early going due to a 2-22 season last year.  They should make easy work of Kennesaw State, which went 5-19 last year and is 6-47 in Amir Abdur-Rahim's 2 years on the job.  Take Iowa State.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Atlanta Hawks +3.5

The Key: I like the price we are getting on the Atlanta Hawks tonight after losing 5 of their last 6 games.  The Warriors are 8-1 this season and off 4 straight wins over the Thunder, Hornets, Pelicans and Rockets, so they have done it against a soft schedule.  Now the Warriors will be playing for a 2nd consecutive day after beating the Rockets on Sunday.  The Hawks had Sunday off and will be rested.  The situation favors them because of it.  The Warriors are 9-23-1 ATS in their last 33 games playing on 0 rest.  The Hawks are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 games off 3 or more consecutive ATS losses.  The Hawks are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 matchups.  Take Atlanta.

6* Heat/Nuggets NBA *CA$H COW* on Miami -2

The Key: The Heat are 7-2 this year with 6 wins by 13 points or more.  The Denver Nuggets are 3-4 in their last 7 games with two wins by 1 and 2 points over the Rockets and Timberwolves, respectively.  The Heat are the better, healthier team here and should have no problem going on the road and covering this short number against the struggling Nuggets.  Denver is expected to be without Michael Porter Jr. tonight and was already without Jamal Murray.  Take Miami.

6* Pacers/Kings Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Sacramento -1.5

The Key: The Sacramento Kings have won 4 of their last 6 games with their only losses coming by 6 on the road to the Mavericks and 6 on the road to the Jazz.  They are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games and coming off 2 straight blowout wins over the Pelicans by 13 and Hornets by 30.  They are healthy and playing well in November once again this year.  The Kings are 15-1 ATS in their last 16 November games.  They take on an Indiana Pacers team that is 3-7 SU this year and could be without Malcolm Brogdon, who has an illness and missed the last game.  Take Sacramento.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Toronto Raptors +3.5

The Key: The Raptors have won 5 of their last 6 games with a 1-point loss.  That includes road wins over the Knicks, Wizards and Pacers.  They get Pascal Siakam back for the 1st time this season today and will be ready to take down Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets.  The Raptors have won 6 of their last 7 matchups with the Nets.  Take Toronto.

6* Saturday NBA *Total* Annihilator on 76ers/Bulls UNDER 213

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers and Chicago Bulls both prefer to slow it down.  The 76ers take it to the extreme as they rank 30th in tempo averaging only 97.8 possessions per game.  The Bulls rank 21st at 100.7 possessions per game.  The Bulls are 7th in defensive efficiency while the 76ers are 14th.  And these teams just played on Wednesday with the 76ers winning a 103-98 defensive game.  The UNDER is 15-4 in Bulls last 19 games overall.  The UNDER is 8-1 in 76ers last 9 games overall.  Take the UNDER.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Minnesota Timberwolves +2.5

The Key: The situation is a good one for the Minnesota Timberwolves.  They want to avenge their 126-115 home loss to the Clippers on Wednesday night.  Los Angeles somehow shot 60% from the field and made 21 3-pointers on 58% shooting.  They won't shoot that well again, and now the Timberwolves will be the hungrier team getting to play the Clippers here again at home Friday night.  It will lead to an outright victory.  Take Minnesota.

6* Friday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Grizzlies/Wizards OVER 220.5

The Key: There's a lot of reasons to believe this will be a shootout tonight between the Grizzlies and Wizards.  The Grizzlies rank 11th in tempo while the Wizards are 15th.  The Grizzlies are 8th in offensive efficiency while the Wizards are 14th.  The Grizzlies are 29th in defensive efficiency with only the Pelicans being worse.  The Wizards are 15th.  Both matchups last year were shootouts that saw 239 and 236 combined points.  The OVER is 9-1 in Grizzlies last 10 games when their opponent scored 100 points or more in their last game.  The OVER is 5-1 in Wizards last 6 home games.  Memphis is 9-0 OVER in its last 9 road games after winning 3 of its last 4 games.  Washington is 9-0 OVER in its last 9 home games against teams that attempt 39 or more 3-pointers per game.  Take the OVER.

6* Thunder/Lakers NBA *BAILOUT* on OVER 215

The Key: The Thunder beat the Lakers 123-115 earlier this year for 238 combined points.  It should be more of the same tonight in a matchup between 2 teams that play at 2 of the fastest tempos in the NBA.  The Lakers rank 1st in tempo at 105.9 possessions per game.  The Thunder are 6th at 101.7 possessions per game.  The Thunder are 25th in defensive efficiency while the Lakers are 16th.  The OVER is 7-1 in Thunder last 8 against a team with a winning record.  The OVER is 7-0 in Lakers last 7 against a team with a losing record.  The OVER is 4-0 in the last 4 matchups.  Take the OVER.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Houston Rockets +10.5

The Key: The Phoenix Suns are just 3-3 SU & 2-4 ATS this year and suffering an NBA Finals hangover.  They should not be favored by double-digits over the Houston Rockets tonight.  Houston has lost just one of its last 6 games by more than 10 points.  All 3 matchups between these teams last year were decided by 6 points or fewer.  The Rockets are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games.  Phoenix is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games overall.  Take Houston.

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on San Antonio Spurs +1

The Key: The situation really favors the San Antonio Spurs tonight.  They will be seeking to avenge their 99-104 road loss at Dallas a week ago.  They had Tuesday off while the Mavericks played the Heat last night and will not only be playing for a 2nd consecutive day, but also their 5th game in 7 days.  They will be without Kleber and could be without Porzingis while the Spurs are fully healthy.  Take San Antonio.

6* Wednesday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Bulls/76ers UNDER 216.5

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers rank dead last in tempo this season at 98.6 possessions per game.  Chicago ranks 21st at 101.4 possessions per game.  This game will be played at a very slow tempo and that should help us cash the UNDER.  The 76ers are missing Tobias Harris, Danny Green and Ben Simmons as well so points will be hard to come by for them.  They'll have to rely on their great defense.  The improvement for the Bulls this year has a lot to do with their defense as they rank 6th in defensive efficiency.  The UNDER is 14-4 in Bulls last 18 games overall.  The UNDER is 9-2 in 76ers last 11 games overall.  The UNDER is 6-1 in 76ers last 7 home games.  Take the UNDER.

6* Rockets/Lakers NBA *BAILOUT* on Houston +10.5

The Key: The Houston Rockets want to avenge their 85-95 road loss to the Lakers on Sunday.  They come back Tuesday with a chance to do just that.  I like the price we are getting on the Rockets, who have lost 4 in a row but only one of those losses came by more than 10 points against some very stiff competition in the Celtics, Mavericks, Jazz and Lakers.  This is a Lakers team battling a ton of injuries and that's why they have failed to live up to expectations, going just 2-5 ATS with only one win by more than 10 points.  The Lakers are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games off 2 or more straight home wins.  The Rockets are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games off a loss.  Take Houston.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Sacramento Kings +9.5

The Key: The Sacramento Kings have only lost one game by more than 9 points this year.  They did lose by 9 to Utah on October 24th and now will be looking to avenge that defeat.  It's a letdown spot for the Jazz, who already beat Sacramento and are coming off a big win over the Bucks.  The Kings are 12-1 ATS in their last 13 November games.  Sacramento is 20-7 ATS in its last 27 games as a dog of 6.5 to 12 points.  The Kings are 37-18 ATS in their last 55 games as road dogs.  Sacramento is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 road games.  Take Sacramento.

6* Thunder/Clippers NBA *BAILOUT* on Oklahoma City +11.5

The Key: The Los Angeles Clippers shouldn't be this heavily favored against anyone.  They are just 1-4 this year and coming off a 13-point home loss to Cleveland as an 8-point favorite followed by a 19-point road loss at Portland as 3.5-point dogs.  The Oklahoma City Thunder were competitive in 2 of their last 3 games against the Warriors and Lakers.  They only lost by 8 to the Warriors and upset the Lakers by 8 as 6-point dogs.  The Clippers just don't have enough talent without Kawhi, Ibaka and Morris to win games by margin like this.  Take Oklahoma City.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Sacramento Kings +4.5

The Key: The Sacramento Kings are 3-0 SU & 3-0 ATS on the road this year with wins over the Blazers, Suns and Pelicans.  I like them catching points here against a Dallas Mavericks team that just isn't very good this year.  The Mavericks are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 home games.  The Kings are 11-1 ATS in their last 12 road games.  Dallas is 1-4 ATS in its 5 games this year.  Take Sacramento.

6* Nuggets/Timberwolves NBA *BAILOUT* on Minnesota -2

The Key: The Timberwolves appear to be one of the most improved teams in the NBA this year with their 3-1 start that included an upset win at Milwaukee last time out.  Now they have had the last 2 days off and take on a Denver Nuggets team that will be playing for a 2nd consecutive day after a big win over the Mavericks on ESPN last night.  It's a letdown situation and tough rest situation for the Nuggets.  Take Minnesota.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on New York Knicks -5.5

The Key: The Knicks had yesterday off while the Pelicans did not.  They lost a close 4-point game to the Kings.  So the Pelicans will be playing for not only a 2nd consecutive day, but also their 6th game in 9 days.  That's about as tough a situation as there is in the NBA.  Take New York.

6* Cavs/Lakers NBA *BAILOUT* on Cleveland +7

The Key: The Cleveland Cavaliers have won 3 straight games outright as underdogs against 3 of the better teams in the NBA.  They beat the Hawks by 6 at home as 8-point dogs, beat the Nuggets by 12 on the road as 9.5-point dogs and beat the Clippers by 13 on the road as 8-point dogs.  Now they had yesterday off and get to stay in Los Angeles to face the struggling Lakers, who are 2-3 SU & 1-4 ATS this year with both of their wins coming by 3 and 4 points.  LeBron James and Anthony Davis are banged up.  Wayne Ellington and Rajon Rondo are questionable.  They are without Nunn, Horton-Tucker and Ariza and still trying to gel with Russell Westbrook new to the lineup.  Take Cleveland.

6* Grizzlies/Warriors NBA *BAILOUT* on Memphis +6

The Key: The Memphis Grizzlies will be playing for a 2nd consecutive day, but that is being factored into the line too much.  They got blown out at Portland last night, which allowed them to rest their starters in the 4th.  And they had 2 days off prior to that Portland game, so they should still have plenty of gas left in the tank to give the Warriors a run tonight.  Golden State is getting too much respect now after a 4-0 start to the year.  All 4 games were decided by 12 points or fewer and they were favored in 3 of them and a 3.5-point dog in one.  They should not be favored by 6 points over a Grizzlies team that is every bit their equal if not better.  The Grizzlies are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games off a loss by more than 10 points.  Take Memphis.

7* Cavs/Blazers NBA *BAILOUT* on Cleveland +8

The Key: The Cleveland Cavaliers have pulled 2 straight upsets over the Hawks as 8-point dogs and the Nuggets as 9.5-point dogs.  Now they are catching 8 points against the banged up Los Angeles Clippers tongight.  The Clippers are missing Leonard, Morris and Ibaka and shouldn't be this big of favorites.  Take Cleveland.

6* Wednesday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Timberwolves/Bucks OVER 229

The Key: The way the Bucks and Timberwolves play this is going to be a shootout just like it was in their 2 matchups last year when they combined for 251 and 235 points.  The Bucks are 3rd in the NBA in tempo while the Timberwolves are 5th.  Take the OVER.

7* NBA Western Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston Rockets +10.5

The Key: The Houston Rockets have some nice young talent in Christian Wood, Kevin Porter Jr., Jae'Sean Tate and Jalen Green.  These four lead them in scoring alongside Eric Gordon.  I like the Rockets to be an underrated team most of the season this year because they have the talent to compete with anyone.  And I like them to stay within single-digits of the Dallas Mavericks, who have looked rough early under Jason Kidd.  They lost their opener by 26 to the Hawks.  Houston is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games off a loss.  Dallas is 0-4 ATS in its last 4 home games.  Take Houston.

6* 76ers/Knicks TNT *CA$H COW* on New York -1.5

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers have a laundry list of injuries right now that will have them failing to live up to expectations early.  The Knicks are basically fully healthy and playing well.  I like the Knicks to get the job done at home tonight.  Take New York.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on New Orleans Pelicans +6

The Key: The New Orleans Pelicans are in a great situation tonight.  They will be looking to avenge their 89-96 loss to the Timberwolves just 2 nights ago.  I think they can improve by at least a point in the rematch and likely will pull the outright upset.  Take New Orleans.

6* Monday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Bulls/Raptors OVER 212

The Key: The Bulls and Raptors both have shot poorly this season.  The Bulls shot 43% and 41.7% in two games other than the 52.8% they shot in scoring 128 points against the Pelicans.  They are a great offensive team and it will show as the season goes.  The Raptors are better than they have shown.  They shot 30.9% against the Wizards, 42% against the Celtics and still scored 115 points, and only 40% against the Mavericks.  They are shooting 37.6% for the season and 26.4% from 3.  That's not going to last.  Take the OVER.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Orlando Magic +12

The Key: The Knicks and Magic just squared off on Friday with the Knicks winning in a blowout.  That means the Magic will be the hungrier team to avenge that defeat.  And instead of only catching 8 points like they were Friday, they are now catching 12 points on Sunday.  Take Orlando.

6* Celtics/Rockets Non-Conference *CA$H COW* on Houston +5.5

The Key: The Houston Rockets have some great young talent and are healthy this season after going through most of last year battling injuries to all of their top players.  The Rockets flashed their potential with their 124-91 home win over the Thunder last time out.  Christian Wood had 31 points, Eric Gordon had 22, Kevin Porter Jr. had 18 and Jae'Sean Tate had 16.  All 4 of those players make up their core and are underrated.  The Celtics are struggling to find their way early.  They are 0-2 with a loss to the Knicks in OT and a 32-point loss to the Raptors to follow it up.  Jaylen Brown is questionable to play tonight.  The Celtics are 6-14 ATS in their last 20 games as road favorites.  Boston is 0-11 ATS in its last 11 games playing on one day of rest.  Take Houston.

6* Grizzlies/Clippers NBA *BAILOUT* on Memphis +4.5

The Key: The Memphis Grizzlies should be one of the best teams in the NBA this season.  They opened with a 132-121 win over the Cavaliers on Wednesday and have had the last 2 days to get ready for the Clippers.  The Clippers lost to the Warriors in their opener and are missing some key players.  Kawhi Leonard and Serge Ibaka are out while Nicolas Batum is questionable.  Take Memphis.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Detroit Pistons +8.5

The Key: The Detroit Pistons want to avenge their 88-94 loss to the Bulls in the opener.  They have had the last 2 days off to get ready for the rematch.  The Bulls don't have the same luxury as they will be playing for a 2nd consecutive day and their 3rd game in 4 days.  Take Detroit.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Cleveland Cavaliers +3

The Key: The Cleveland Cavaliers only trailed by 5 points with under a minute left at Memphis in their opener.  The Grizzlies eventually pulled away for an 11-point victory.  I like the talent on this Cleveland team and think they will pull the upset at home against the Hornets, who are coming off a 123-122 win over the Pacers in what was a huge revenge game for them after losing to Indiana in the play-in game last year.  This is a letdown situation for them now.  The Hornets are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 road games.  Take Cleveland.

6* Clippers/Warriors TNT *BAILOUT* on Golden State -3

The Key: The Golden State Warriors showed they are more than just Stephen Curry against the Lakers in their opener.  They went on a huge second-half run without Curry led by the play of Jordan Poole.  They eventually won 121-114 as 3.5-point dogs.  They will have more chemistry than the Clippers, who are playing their first game of the season tonight.  And the Clippers are without Kawhi Leonard, Serge Ibaka and Nicolas Batum for this one.  The Warriors are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games overall.  Take Golden State.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on San Antonio Spurs -6

The Key: The Orlando Magic were already going to be one of the worst teams in the NBA this year.  That's definitely the case to start the season with all their injuries.  They are without Isaac, Fultz, Carter-Williams, Moore and Okeke.  The Spurs are a young, talented team this year that should be able to grow better together now that veterans DeRozan and Gay are gone.  They definitely have enough talent to cover this short number against the injury-ravaged Magic.  Take San Antonio.

6* Nets/Bucks Eastern Conference *CA$H COW* on Milwaukee -1

The Key: I like the price we are getting on the defending champs in a game they basically just have to win to cover against the Brooklyn Nets tonight.  The Bucks pretty much bring back everyone but PJ Tucker.  The Nets will be without Kyrie Irving to start the season until he gets vaccinated.  The Bucks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Suns/Bucks Game 6 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 222.5

The Key: The 3 matchups in Phoenix have gone OVER the total and the 2 matchups in Milwaukee have gone UNDER the total with 220 and 212 combined points.  Oddsmakers closed with a 219.5-point total in Game 5 and it sailed over the number with 242 combined points.  But it was an aberration with the Suns shooting 55.2% overall and 68.4% from 3 while the Bucks shot 57.5% overall and 50% from 3.  Now they have set this total 3 points higher at 222.5, so I like the price we are getting with the UNDER knowing neither team is going to come close to matching their impressive shooting numbers in Game 5.  It was the slowest-paced game of the series and this one should slow down even more in an elimination game.  Take the UNDER.

7* Bucks/Suns Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Phoenix -3.5

The Key: Home-court advantage has clearly been huge in this series. The home team is 4-0 with 3 wins by double-digits. Game 4 was close as the Suns were covering the entire way before the Bucks closed strong for a 109-103 victory. Now it's the Suns back at home in Game 5 here where they will be much more comfortable and should get a bounce back game from Chris Paul. The Suns scored 118 points and shot 46.6% in Game 1 and scored 118 points and shot 48.9% in Game 2 including 50% from 3-point range. They have been so good at home in these playoffs and this is a short number for them to be laying when you consider they were 5-point favorites in Game 1 and 4.5-point favorites in Game 2. They are now 35-11 at home this year. The Suns are also 36-16 ATS in their last 52 home games. The Bucks are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games as road underdogs. The Suns are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as home favorite. Phoenix is 46-19-1 ATS in its last 66 games against a team with a winning record. The Bucks are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 trips to Phoenix. The Suns are 18-3 ATS as a home favorite of 6 points or less this year. Take Phoenix.

7* NBA Finals Total of the Year on Suns/Bucks UNDER 220.5

The Key: I think we see the lowest scoring game of the series between the Suns and Bucks tonight. They combined for 223 points in Game 1, 226 in Game 2 and 220 in Game 3. The pace will slow down as this series goes on because both teams get better at defending the other the more familiar they become with one another. There will be fewer and fewer fast break opportunities and more half court sets. And it's unlikely that both teams shoot as well as they did in Game 3 and that game still only produced 220 combined points. Take the UNDER.

7* NBA Finals Game of the Year on Milwaukee Bucks -4

The Key: It's now or never for the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3 at home after falling down 2-0 in this series.  I don't see the Suns shooting as well on the road as they did at home, especially in Game 2 when they cashed in a ridiculous 20 of 40 3-pointers.  The Bucks should get much better performances from their role players after Giannis is really the only one that showed up offensively in Game 2 with over 40 points.  The Bucks are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games against a team with a winning road record.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Bucks/Suns Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee +5.5

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks got Giannis back for Game 1 of this series and are back to basically full strength now for these finals.  In no world should the Bucks be 5.5-point dogs to the Suns in Game 2 with their backs against the wall after losing Game 1.  Giannis showed he was still his same old self with 20 points and 17 rebounds, but the Bucks couldn't overcome a huge game from Chris Paul.  Jrue Holiday is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA and will accept the challenge of trying to limit Paul, who can't possibly be as effective as he was the past couple games.  This has been a resilient Bucks team this season and that will show up here in Game 2 with the series basically on the line Thursday.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Bucks/Suns Game 1 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee +6

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks showed what they could do without Giannis by beating the Atlanta Hawks in Games 5 and 6.  They won by 11 in Game 5 and again by 11 on the road in Game 6.  They got big games from both Middleton and Holiday in each victory, and these two are better than they get credit for.  There is still enough talent surrounding them to keep this series with Phoenix competitive until Giannis returns.  We'll see that in Game 1 tonight as the Bucks are catching too many points against the Suns.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Bucks/Hawks Game 6 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee +2

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks are underdogs for the first time in this series in Game 6 tonight.  They have been 8-point favorites or higher 3 times in their first 5 games, so I certainly like the price we are getting on them as dogs tonight.  Middleton, Holiday, Lopez and Portis all had 22 or more points in Game 5 and combined for 106 points in a 123-112 victory over the Hawks in Game 5.  I like their chances of closing out this series in Game 6, especially with Trae Young still questionable for the Hawks.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Hawks/Bucks Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee -2

The Key: The books and the betting public have moved this line too much for the injury to Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks have won plenty of games without him this year and will have the advantage of playing at home in front of their fans without him tonight. And the Hawks could still be missing Trae Young and Clint Capela isn't 100% either. The Bucks will rally for one game here without their star. Consider that they favored by 8 and 8.5 points in their first 2 home games in this series. They were also favored by 5 and 8.5 points in their 2 road games in this series. Now they are only 2-point favorites at home in Game 5, so you can tell just how much the books have moved the line for the Giannis injury. The Bucks are 39-24 ATS in their last 63 games off an upset loss as a favorite. The Hawks are 23-43 ATS in their last 66 playoff road games. Take Milwaukee.

7* Suns/Clippers Game 6 *HEAVY HITTER* on Phoenix +1

The Key: Paul George, Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris combined to make 32 of their 50 field goal attempts in Game 5 to stave off elimination for at least one more game. They have to shoulder so much of the load for this team without Kawhi. But I don't think they'll be able to repeat that performance. And I like the price we are getting on the Suns as underdogs in Game 6 after they were 7.5-point favorites in Game 5. This is an 8.5-point adjustment for home court and it's too much. Take Phoenix.

7* Bucks/Hawks Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Atlanta +7

The Key: The Atlanta Hawks are getting 2.5 more points than they were in Game 3. They were 4.5-point dogs in Game 3 and now 7-point dogs in Game 4. The price is right to back the Hawks in this situation. Atlanta is 51-23 ATS in its last 74 games after losing its last game by 10 points or more. The Hawks are 20-7 ATS in their last 27 home games. Take Atlanta.

7* Clippers/Suns Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Los Angeles +5.5

The Key: The Los Angeles Clippers have been a resilient bunch in these playoffs. They've come back from 0-2 down in each of their first 2 series to win. And they were down 0-2 in this series before winning Game 3 and only losing Game 4 by 4 points. I like the price with them in Game 5 tonight considering they have just one loss to the Suns by more than 4 points in this series. They won't go down without a fight. And there's a lot of pressure on the Suns trying to make their first NBA Finals since 1993 with a win. The Clippers are 13-2 ATS on the road with a total of 210 to 219.5 this year. Los Angeles is 45-22 ATS in its last 67 games off a loss. The Clippers are 16-7 ATS in the last 23 matchups. Take Los Angeles.

6* Bucks/Hawks Game 3 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 224

The Key: No game report on vacation.

7* Suns/Clippers Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Phoenix ML -107

The Key: Devin Booker and Chris Paul went a combined 10 for 40 (25%) in the Game 3 loss.  That's not going to happen again and I expect the Suns to regain control of this series with a Game 4 victory tonight.  Phoenix is 7-0 ATS when avenging a loss as a road favorite this season.  The Suns are 8-1 ATS when avenging a road loss by 10 points or more this season.  Take Phoenix.

7* Hawks/Bucks Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee -7.5

The Key: The Hawks are 0-2 SU & 0-2 ATS after winning Game 1 in these playoffs.  They came back to lose by 9 to the Knicks and by 16 to the 76ers in Game 2.  And the Bucks should put it on them tonight after only making 8 3-pointers and 11 free throws in Game 1.  Those numbers won't be that low again in Game 2.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Suns/Clippers Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on Los Angeles ML +101

The Key: The Los Angeles Clippers were down 2 games to 0 against both the Mavericks and Jazz and not only came back to win Game 3 both times, but also to win the series both times.  They have been here before and won't be phased.  Now the Clippers will rely on their home-court advantage where they have gone 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games and 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as home underdogs.  Take Los Angeles.

7* Hawks/Bucks Game 1 *HEAVY HITTER* on Atlanta +8

The Key: The Atlanta Hawks have done their best work on the road in these playoffs.  They are 5-2 SU & 5-2 ATS on the road this postseason including 3 outright wins at Philadelphia last series.  This 8-point spread is too high for Game 1 of this series with the Bucks, who have been able to advantage but have been shaky in the process, especially offensively.  The Hawks won their final matchup of the season with the Bucks outright as 6-point home dogs.  And they have been a different team with Nate McMillan as head coach.  They have a great chance to steal Game 1 tonight just as they did against both the Knicks and 76ers in their first two Game 1's.  The Bucks are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 home games against a team with a losing road record.  The Hawks are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 matchups in Milwaukee.  Take Atlanta.

6* Clippers/Suns Game 2 *CA$H COW* on Los Angeles +5

The Key: You're definitely paying a tax to back the Suns at this point after going 8-0 SU & 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games overall.  They go from being 4-point favorites in Game 1 to 5-point favorites in Game 2 after winning Game 1 by 6 points.  They got a huge game from Devin Booker and it's going to be hard to see him playing that well again.  The Clippers have been playing well without Kawhi Leonard as they won Games 5 and 6 against Utah as underdogs without him, and then hung tough for 4 quarters with the Suns in Game 1.  I expect them to stay within this 5-point spread in Game 2 and possibly pull the upset here tonight.  Take Los Angeles.

7* Hawks/76ers Game 7 *HEAVY HITTER* on UNDER 216

The Key: The UNDER definitely makes sense in Game 7 here.  This has become an even lower scoring series as the games have gone one.  They combined for 203 points in Game 4, 215 in Game 5 and 203 in Game 6.  The Hawks are 16-1 UNDER in their last 17 playoff games when trying to close out the series.  Take the UNDER.

7* Bucks/Nets Game 7 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee +2

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks have won 3 of the last 4 matchups in this series.  They have essentially won 7 of 8 halves as well with the only exception being Kevin Durant going off in the 2nd half of Game 5 to bring the Nets back from 17 points down to win.  The Nets just shouldn't be favored over the Bucks without Kyrie Irving and with a 50% James Harden.  The Bucks get over the hump with a Game 7 victory tonight.  Take Milwaukee.

7* 76ers/Hawks Game 6 *HEAVY HITTER* on Philadelphia -2.5

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers have let the Hawks off the hook in the last 2 games losing each by 3 points apiece.  That includes a 26-point blown lead in Game 5.  Now we will get their biggest effort of the year tonight to try and stave off elimination.  And this young Hawks team isn't ready to win a huge close out game like this just yet.  I like the price with the 76ers as they go from being 7-point favorites in Game 5 to just 2.5-point favorites in Game 6.  Take Philadelphia.

7* Nets/Bucks Game 6 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee -5.5

The Key: Kevin Durant had a career game in Game 5 in leading the Nets back from 17 points down to pull the upset over the Bucks.  Now Milwaukee is back home where they will be a lot more comfortable and I don't think Durant can shoulder the entire load again and keep the Nets competitive.  Kyrie Irving is still out and it's clear James Harden is a shell of himself after going just 1-for-10 from the field in Game 5.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Hawks/76ers Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Philadelphia -7

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers have one of the best home-court advantages in the NBA.  They are 33-8 at home this year and will win in this pivotal Game 5 tonight.  Joel Embiid isn't going to have only 4 field goals and go 0 for 12 in the 2nd half again like he did in Game 4 when the 76ers still had a chance to win in closing seconds.  He'll play better, and the role players will play better in front of their home fans tonight.  Take Philadelphia.

7* Bucks/Nets Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee -4

The Key: The Brooklyn Nets are in a world of hurt right now with the injuries to Harden and Irving.  They now have to ask Kevin Durant to do too much.  The Bucks are too good of a team to let one player like Durant beat them.  And they are hungry to prove that they are NBA title contenders.  That showed in their gutsy Game 3 win followed by an 11-point win in Game 4 with their backs against the wall.  Now they will grab a stranglehold on this series with a Game 5 victory on the road.  Take Milwaukee.

7* 76ers/Hawks Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Atlanta +3

The Key: The price is right to back the Atlanta Hawks as 3-point home dogs tonight.  They were just 1.5-point home dogs in Game 3 so there has been an adjustment here.  The 76ers shot 58.2% from the floor and 47.6% from 3 in Game 3 and that is unlikely to happen again.  It's also unlikely the Hawks shoot as poorly as they did in Game 3 as they made only 6 3-pointers at a 26.1% clip.  Remember, they cashed 20 3's in Game 1.  Philadelphia is 3-11 ATS off 2 consecutive covers as a favorite this year.  The 76ers are 13-27-2 ATS in their last 42 road games against a team with a winning home record.  The Hawks are 20-7 ATS in their last 27 home games.  The Hawks are 50-23 ATS in their last 73 games off a double-digit home loss.  Take Atlanta.

7* Nets/Bucks Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee +2.5

The Key: I like the price we are getting on the Milwaukee Bucks as home underdogs in Game 4 after they were just 3.5-point favorites in Game 3 at home. They won by 3 and now this is a 6-point adjustment. The Bucks still haven't shot the ball to their capability in this series and it's coming sooner rather than later. Take Milwaukee.

7* Jazz/Clippers Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on Los Angeles -4.5

The Key: The Clippers are in a must-win situation at home after losing the first 2 games in this series in Salt Laker City by a combined 9 points. Now they are back home and should give a big effort and cover this short number tonight. Take Los Angeles.

7* 76ers/Hawks Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on Philadelphia -1

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers are the better team in this series and have the best player in Joel Embiid. He is clearly healthy now after backing up his 39-point effort in Game 1 with a 40-point effort in Game 2. The Hawks have no answer for him, and the players around him are pretty damn good this season. The Hawks shot the lights out in Game 1 but came back down to reality in Game 2. It should be more of the same here in Game 3 as the 76ers take control of this series with a victory. Take Philadelphia.

7* Clippers/Jazz Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Los Angeles +3.5

The Key: The Clippers are now 3-1 SU & 4-0 ATS on the road in these playoffs.  They beat the Mavericks by 10, 25 and 7 points before losing by just 3 to the Jazz in Game 1.  They will come back hungry in Game 2 and should get the outright victory, but we'll take the 3.5 points for some insurance.  The Clippers are 15-5 ATS in their last 20 road games off a loss by 6 points or less.  Los Angeles is 32-16 ATS in its last 48 games off a road loss.  The Clippers are 40-24 ATS in their last 64 games when avenging a same-season loss.  Take Los Angeles.

6* Nets/Bucks Game 3 *CA$H COW* on Milwaukee -3.5

The Key: The Bucks have made just 14 3-pointers in this series while the Nets have made 36 3-pointers.  That has been the difference.  The roles will be reversed here in Milwaukee as the Bucks come out hungry for a win in Game 3 to save their season.  Their role players should be much better at home with their fans having their back.  We'll get a big effort from the Bucks tonight.  Take Milwaukee.

6* Nuggets/Suns Game 2 *CA$H COW* on Phoenix -5.5

The Key: The Phoenix Suns are 4-0 SU & 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall with wins by 8, 30 and 13 points over the Lakers and a 17-point win over the Nuggets.  They are playing so well right now and with a ton of confidence.  I think the Nuggets being without Jamaal Murray really hurts them in this series against the Suns, who play elite defense unlike the Blazers last series.  They need him to break down their defense and don't have somebody that can now.  They managed just 105 points in Game 1 and will struggle to score all series.  Take Phoenix.

6* Clippers/Jazz Game 1 *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles +4

The Key: The Los Angeles Clippers are in a great rhythm right now.  They have won 4 of their last 5 games after falling behind 0-2 in their series with the Mavericks.  The 4 wins came by 10, 25, 7 and 15 points.  I like backing the team in a rhythm in Game 1 of a new series over the team that could be rusty like the Jazz who have had nearly a week off since their last game against Memphis.  Plus I think the Clippers are just the better team in this series, so getting 4 points in Game 1 is a nice price.  Take Los Angeles.

7* Bucks/Nets Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee +1.5

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks are 12-3 in their last 15 games overall.  They are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games following a loss.  They haven't lost 2 games in a row since April 17-19.  They will bounce back following a bad loss in Game 1 in which James Harden went out early, but they only connected on 6 of 30 3-pointers for a 20% clip.  Harden remains out for Game 2 and I fully expect the Bucks to take advantage and tie this series.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Mavs/Clippers Game 7 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 210

The Key: Game 7's always tend to be lower scoring because there is so much at stake and by that point both teams are very familiar with one another, which favors defense.  The UNDER is 3-0 in the last 3 matchups in this series with combined scores of 187, 205 and 201 points.  Take the UNDER.

7* Bucks/Nets Game 1 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee +4

The Key: The Bucks just outscored the Heat by 82 points in 4 games in their sweep last series.  The Heat are a much better team than the Boston Celtics, who the Nets just beat in 5 games.  The Bucks have owned the Nets over the years and won 2 of 3 matchups this year with their lone loss coming by just 2 points.  The Bucks are 29-11-1 ATS in the last 41 matchups and 16-4-1 ATS in the last 21 matchups in Brooklyn.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Clippers/Mavs Game 6 *HEAVY HITTER* on Los Angeles -2.5

The Key: I like the Clippers to continue the trend of the road team in this series.  The road team has won and covered all 5 games between the Clippers and Mavericks.  Los Angeles is now 8-2 ATS in its last 10 trips to Dallas.  Luka Doncic had a huge Game 5 and has had much bigger games on the road than at home.  The Clippers have won their 2 road matchups with the Mavericks by a combined 35 points in this series.  Take Los Angeles.

7* NBA 1st Round Total of the Year on Suns/Lakers UNDER 207.5

The Key: This has been a low-scoring series between the Suns and Lakers, who are 2 of the best defensive teams in the NBA.  The Suns and Lakers have combined for 200, 192, 204, 211 and 189 points in their 5 games in this series thus far.  Oddsmakers have set the number too high again here in Game 6 with a 207.5-point total.  The UNDER is 4-0-1 in the last 5 matchups.  The UNDER is 8-0-1 in Suns last 9 Conference Quarterfinals games.  The UNDER is 16-4-2 in Lakers last 22 games against a team that wins more than 60% of their games.  Take the UNDER.

7* Grizzlies/Jazz Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Memphis +9.5

The Key: The Grizzlies are in a win-or-go-home game tonight against the Utah Jazz.  They will give their best effort and it should be good enough to cover this 9.5-point spread.  Take Memphis.

6* Hawks/Knicks Game 5 *CA$H COW* on New York -1.5

The Key: The New York Knicks are in a win-or-go-home game tonight against the Atlanta Hawks.  They have played much better at home in this series and all season.  They are 18-2 ATS in their 20 home games this year when the line was +3 to -3.  Take New York.

7* Blazers/Nuggets Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Portland +2

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers have now won 12 of their last 16 games overall with 10 wins by double-digits.  They are playing so well right now and should not be the underdogs to the Denver Nuggets in this pivotal Game 5.  The Blazers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games.  Take Portland.

7* Jazz/Grizzlies Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Memphis +6

The Key: The Memphis Grizzlies will be hungry for a victory in Game 4 after blowing a late lead to the Utah Jazz in Game 3.  They have shown they can play with the Jazz in this series, even with a healthy Donovan Mitchell.  And the situation favors the Grizzlies tonight as they will be the hungrier team with their season basically on the line here.  Take Memphis.

6* Clippers/Mavericks Game 4 *CA$H COW* on Los Angeles -3

The Key: The road team is 3-0 SU & 3-0 ATS in this series thus far.  That has been the case dating back to the regular season as well.  The Clippers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 matchups with the Mavericks in Dallas.  We are getting them cheap here in Game 4 as they are the better team and home court hasn't meant much.  They picked up a huge Game 3 win despite trailing by 19 points at one point, coming back to win by 10 points.  Luke Doncic has a back/shoulder injury now to deal with suffered in Game 3.  Take Los Angeles.

7* Suns/Lakers Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Phoenix +6.5

The Key: I like the price we are getting on the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 tonight.  The Suns are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games off a loss.  Phoenix is 22-8 ATS in its last 30 games off an ATS loss.  The Lakers are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 games off a win.  Los Angeles is 0-7 ATS in its last 7 games off a win by more than 10 points.  Take Phoenix.

6* 76ers/Wizards Game 3 *CA$H COW* on Washington +6.5

The Key: The Washington Wizards will be hungry for a win in Game 3 to avoid falling down 3-0.  I like their chances at home here considering they have won 10 of their last 11 home games with their lone defeat coming by 3 points.  So they are 11-0 ATS against a line of +3.5 or higher in their last 11 home games.  Take Washington.

7* Nuggets/Blazers Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Portland -4.5

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers will be hungry for a win at home in Game 4 to even this series.  The Nuggets made 20 3-pointers and shot them at better than 50% in Game 3 and that's unlikely to happen again.  The Blazers should get better performances from everyone outside Damian Lillard, who is playing as well as anyone in the playoffs.  Take Portland.

7* NBA 1st Round Game of the Year on Los Angeles Clippers -2.5

The Key: The Clippers are in a must-win here in Game 3.  They will be the hungrier team after getting upset in each of the first 2 games of this series at home.  But the Mavericks couldn't have shot better in both games and that is unlikely to happen again given how good of a defensive team the Clippers are.  The Clippers have also had great success on the road in this series going 6-2 ATS in the last 8 matchups in Dallas.  Now we get them as only 2.5-point favorites in Game 3 after being 7-point favorites in Game 2.  Take Dallas.

6* Nuggets/Blazers Game 3 *BAILOUT* on Portland -3.5

The Key: The Blazers are 11-3 SU & 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games.  They will bounce back from a poor performance in Game 2 as their role players have much better games at home in Game 3.  The Nuggets are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 matchups with the Blazers.  Look for Portland to shoot much better from the field and to play much better defense in Game 3 tonight as they regain home-court advantage.  Take Portland.

7* Bucks/Heat Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on Miami +2

The Key: It's do or die for the Miami Heat in Game 3 tonight after dropping the first 2 games of this series in Milwaukee.  The Heat will have one of the best home-court advantages in these playoffs as they will have over 17,000 fans in attendance with the light restrictions in Miami.  It will pay off as they play a great game here similar to Game 1.  Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and company won't go away quietly.  The Heat are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 home matchups with the Bucks.  Take Miami.

6* Hawks/Knicks Game 2 *CA$H COW* on New York -2

The Key: The New York Knicks had won all 3 regular season matchups with the Hawks before their 105-107 loss in Game 1.  The Knicks are still 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 matchups with the Hawks.  New York is 17-2 ATS at home when the line is from +3 to -3 this season.  Take New York.

7* Wizards/76ers Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Washington +8.5

The Key: The Washington Wizards have only lost one game by more than 7 points in their last 23 games coming into this Game 2 showdown with the 76ers.  They have faced the 76ers 4 times already this season and only once did they lose by more than 7 points.  This is too many points for the Wizards tonight.  Take Washington.

7* Lakers/Suns Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Los Angeles -1.5

The Key: The Los Angeles Lakers will take Game 2 tonight to even this series with the Phoenix Suns.  They did not play well at all in Game 1, especially Anthony Davis, and they are primed for a bounce back.  The Lakers had won 6 straight prior to that defeat.  They are 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 games off a loss.  Take Los Angeles.

6* NBA *Total* Annihilator on Celtics/Nets OVER 227

The Key: Both the Nets and Celtics shot terrible in Game 1 and it's unlikely to happen again in Game 2.  The Celtics shot 36.9% while the Nets shot 41.7% including 23.5% from 3-point range.  The Celtics are 15-6 OVER off a road loss this year.  The Nets are 32-20 OVER as a favorite this season.  The OVER is 7-3 in Nets last 10 home games.  Take the OVER.

7* Heat/Bucks Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Miami +4.5

The Key: The Miami Heat are 12-5 SU & 13-4 ATS in their last 17 games overall.  They have been in playoff mode for over a month and are back to playing like they did last season when they made the run to the NBA Finals.  They lost by 2 in OT to the Bucks in Game 1 and will be looking to avenge that defeat tonight.  The Heat are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.  Miami is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 road games.  Milwaukee is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games as a favorite.  The Heat are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 trips to Milwaukee.  Take Miami.

7* Grizzlies/Jazz Game 1 *HEAVY HITTER* on Memphis +9

The Key: The Utah Jazz won't be hitting on all cylinders after having a week off and now trying to get used to playing with both Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley again.  This line is simply too wide.  The Grizzlies are in a rhythm right now and playing with confidence after disposing of the Spurs and Warriors in win-or-go-home situations.  They are now 7-1 SU in their last 8 games and playing as well as they have all season, largely due to being healthy finally.  Take Memphis.

6* Lakers/Suns Game 1 *CA$H COW* on Phoenix -2

The Key: The Phoenix Suns were one of the most underrated teams in the NBA this year.  They went 51-21 SU & 42-28-2 ATS, including 27-9 SU at home and 23-13 ATS.  The Lakers are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 games as underdogs.  Los Angeles is 4-10-1 ATS in its last 15 games overall.  The Lakers are 2-12 ATS in their last 14 games off a win.   The Suns are 29-13 ATS in their last 42 home games.  Phoenix is 10-2 ATS in its last 12 home games against a team with a winning road record.  Take Phoenix.

7* Blazers/Nuggets Game 1 *HEAVY HITTER* on Portland +1

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 matchups with the Nuggets including their 132-116 win in the regular season finale.  The Blazers are 10-2 SU in their last 12 games overall.  They will beat the Nuggets without Jamal Murray and Will Barton.  Take Portland.

6* Heat/Bucks Game 1 *CA$H COW* on Milwaukee -4.5

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks will be hungry to avenge their playoff loss to the Heat last season.  We saw them take out their frustration on the Heat in 2 blowout wins during the regular season by finals of 144-97 and 122-108.  I think they have made the proper adjustments to be able to beat the Heat in this series, and it starts with Game 1 tonight.  Having Jrue Holiday at PG as an upgrade over Eric Bledsoe makes all the difference.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Grizzlies/Warriors ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Memphis +4.5

The Key: I like the price we are getting on the Memphis Grizzlies tonight as this game should be lined closer to a pick 'em.  The Grizzlies have gotten healthy down the stretch and are playing their best basketball of the season.  They are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games overall.  Now they will be looking to avenge that lone defeat, which came at Golden State in the regular season finale.  The Warriors are missing several of their best players in Oubre Jr., Wiseman and Thompson.  They simply rely too much on Curry.  They suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Lakers and will have a hangover from that defeat, while the Grizzlies come in with a ton of confidence after a close win over the Spurs.  The Grizzlies are 9-1 ATS off 3 or more consecutive unders this season.  The Grizzlies are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games as underdogs.  Take Memphis.

7* Pacers/Wizards TNT *HEAVY HITTER* on OVER 236.5

The Key: The Pacers and Wizards have played in 3 shootouts this year.  They have combined for 256, 295 and 265 points in their 3 matchups.  So this 236.5-point total has not been set high enough.  Indiana is 7-0 OVER when playing against a team that wins between 40% and 49% of their games this year.  The OVER is 10-3 in Pacers last 13 games overall.  The OVER is 19-7 in Pacers last 26 road games.  The OVER is 11-1 in Wizards last 12 games against a team with a losing record.  The OVER is 4-1-1 in the last 5 matchups.  Take the OVER.

7* Spurs/Grizzlies ESPN *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 223.5

The Key: I'm taking the UNDER in this winner-take-all game between the Spurs and Grizzlies tonight.  Both teams will be locked in defensively with their season on the line.  And I expect the pressure to affect them both offensively as these are 2 teams not used to playoff pressure.  Memphis is 12-1 UNDER in its last 13 home games when playing only its 2nd game in 5 days.  The UNDER is 4-1 in Spurs last 5 games playing on 2 days' rest.  The UNDER is 37-15 in Grizzlies last 52 home games.  The UNDER is 6-1 in Grizzlies last 7 games overall.  Take the UNDER.

7* Hornets/Pacers NBA *HEAVY HITTER* on Charlotte +3

The Key: The Charlotte Hornets come into this game catching points with the Pacers due to going 0-5 in their last 5 games overall.  But they were close to winning 4 of those 5 games against great competition with all 4 losses either by 5 points or less or in OT to the Pelicans, Nuggets, Clippers, Knicks and Wizards.  They are battle-tested now and as healthy as they have been for a long time entering the playoffs.  The Pacers are far from healthy.  Lamb, Turner and Warren are out while Sabonis, Brogdon, Holiday and Sumner are all questionable.  The Hornets won 108-105 at home and 114-97 on the road in their final 2 matchups with the Pacers this year.  Indiana is 8-20 ATS in its last 28 games as a home favorite.  The Pacers are 0-8 ATS in their last 8 playoff games.  The Hornets are 21-7-1 ATS in their last 29 road games against a team with a losing home record.  Take Charlotte.

6* Sunday NBA *Total* Annihilator on Clippers/Thunder UNDER 221.5

The Key: The Clippers are trying to lose right now and that was evident when they rested everyone and lost to the Rockets on Friday. The Thunder are trying to lose as well and have gone 1-23 in their last 24 games to try and improve their lottery position. That leads me to believe scoring will be down in this season finale. Take the UNDER.

7* NBA Eastern Conference Game of the Month on Washington Wizards -6

The Key: The Charlotte Hornets are a tired team right now. They will be playing their 10th game in 16 days in the month of May. They are coming off an OT loss to the Knicks last night in which several players played over 30 minutes, including two over 40 minutes. Now they will be playing for a 2nd consecutive day while the Washington Wizards had Saturday off. The Wizards are 18-4 ATS in their last 22 games when playing with one day of rest in between games. Take Washington.